Public hearings expected next year on idea for Geneva business district

Officials, residents will create a list of projects that could benefit the downtown business area

November 08, 2012|By Kate Thayer, Chicago Tribune reporter

A Geneva panel, with help from the public, will begin developing a list of projects that could boost the city's popular downtown.

It's another step toward establishing a business district that could qualify for funding to pay for enhancements to downtown. The journey to create the district began late last year when the city council directed the newly-formed Economic Development Commission to examine the possibility. The commission has since recommended establishing the district and consideration of funding options, including a new sales tax up to 1 percent on sales within the district.

The city council must approve any district, which must meet certain criteria under state law. The criteria involve infrastructure and fire safety, among other things, and will be studied with help from a Kane County grant of $10,800, Economic Development Director Ellen Divita recently told the council.

Meanwhile, the commission will come up with a variety of projects that are needed and could be funded by the district, said Chairman Bob Mann. Such projects could include public art, enhanced lighting, utility upgrades and grant opportunities for businesses, officials said.

Mann also suggested adding bike racks and public restrooms to compliment the bike routes that could bring in more shoppers and diners. Overall, the projects would improve the already well-used downtown and "promote people in the Chicago metropolitan area to come out here to spend a day or two," Mann said.

"I think we have a nice base, but it could be a lot better," he said. "The consumers are fickle. They may think Geneva is nice to be in today but not tomorrow. We have to stay up on things."

Divita said when word of a possible business district first came out, people were leery because of the notion of an additional sales tax. That's not the only way to fund the projects, she said, and it's too soon to tell if it will be implemented.

The first step is coming up with a number of projects the commission believes are needed, and then see what funding is available, she said.

"Whether or not a sales tax is (created) is going to be based on the goal list," she said. "Let's back into what it will take to raise the funds."

Public hearings will help create that goal list. They likely will be early next year, Mann said.